Your spring guide to home energy efficiency

There’s no snow on the ground and the days are getting longer, that can only mean one thing: spring is here! While some of us will be celebrating the rising temperatures, others might be turning to a big checklist of home projects.

We’ve asked a couple of our Home Energy Advisors where you can start on spring renovation projects, and what to look for when planning for home energy upgrades. Here’s what they say.

What should you look for at the end of winter?

Once the last winter snow has cleared and the days get warmer, there’s a few things around the home you can check yourself.

“Take a look at your attic to see if there’s damage from the winter,” says Ciro Batista, a Home Energy Advisor with Clean Foundation. “Check for physical damage to roof components, water damage or mould growth. If you have loose-fill fiberglass insulation, check to see if it’s all in place or if it moved.”

Other checks you can make yourself include:

• Clean or replace the filters in your heat pumps, air exchangers and ventilation systems.
• Walk around your home checking gutters and downspouts, as extra water getting into your home can prevent moisture issues that impact energy efficiency.

Does spring bring any home energy efficiency challenges?

While there’s a big focus on home energy efficiency in winter due to the cost of heating, spring can also bring its own challenges. As cold mornings move into sunny days, there’s often more moisture in the air which can lead to condensation build-up around your windows. Too much condensation can result in mould, mildew and extra humidity around your home.

“It’s always a good idea to monitor the humidity in your home and take actions to keep it within acceptable levels (between 40% to 60%),” Ciro says. “Some examples of humidity control actions can be the use of a dehumidifier and bathroom and rangehood exhaust vents. If you have an air exchanger, that’s even better!”

What can you do next?

To make your home more energy efficient in the warmer months, Home Energy Advisor Ally Garand recommends focusing on the building envelope.

“From a building science perspective, it is usually best to start with air sealing, insulation and possibly ventilation if required,” she says. “Then, after those upgrades are completed you can look at tackling mechanical upgrades like heat pumps.”

With Clean Energy Financing, you can get detailed help from experts like Ciro and Ally, as well as access to financing to make the upgrades more affordable. They’ll crunch the numbers on your recommended home energy upgrades to calculate your return on investment and ensure you’re getting all available rebates.